Malicious intent to fix me, court told

> Ex-RTD deputy DG believes he was targeted in emergency lane case

PUTRAJAYA: Former Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy directorgeneral Datuk Yusoff Ayob ( pix) yesterday claimed there were malicious intentions directed towards him, in a case where he is accused of driving in the emergency lane.

Yusoff was testifying under oath after he was ordered to enter his defence by magistrate Muhammad Zaki Abd Kudos, who found that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a “prima facie” case against him.

“I have no doubt and I am convinced that there was a certain agenda and malicious intent towards me,” he said.

Firstly, he said, after the photograph of his vehicle was taken committing the offence, it went viral on Facebook the next day, though they did not know who was driving the car.

Secondly, he said, 20 pictures were taken by an RTD officer using a handphone, but only eight summons were issued as the other pictures were said to be blurry.

“Using a handphone is not professional,” he said, adding that the pictures were transferred and printed to be used for his summons.

Thirdly, he said, the investigating officer completed his investigations and suggested no action be taken and this was agreed by his superior.

“I find that there is malicious intent towards me, as the person who broke into the director-general’s office was from the same division,” he said.

“This was done to lower my dignity and humiliate me as the deputy DG.”

Yusoff, 58, had claimed trial to the (summons) charge of driving a car with the registration number BLY 68 on the emergency lane at Lingkaran Putraja in Putrajaya at about 6.27pm on Oct 7 last year.

The act is in violation of Rule 53(1) of Road Traffic Rules 1959 and an offence under Section 119 (1)(c) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Muhammad Zaki fixed Oct 16 to deliver a decision at the end of the defence case.

Deputy public prosecutor Izzat Fauzan appeared for the prosecution.